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Everything old is new again

Ken Iversion originally designed APL as exactly this - an algorithm notation, then it was noticed that -- since this was well specified -- it could actually be executed. I urge anyone who finds interest in this to read Ken's "the description of finite sequential processes"[0], especially the description of the simplex algorithm[1], which is perhaps the most elegant I've ever seen.

I am actually surprised that kragen did not mention APL more, as I know he is familiar with it, and he is usually pretty good about giving credit where credit is due.

[0] http://keiapl.info/eemcd/keisimplexpages/keisimplex447.html

[1] http://keiapl.info/eemcd/keisimplexpages/keisimplex452.html



Lisp was designed in the same way. As I recall, it was Steve Russell who demonstrated that it could be implemented on machines of the day.




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